MADACASCAR DRAGON TREE - Knowledgebase Question

Madagascar Dragon Tree is Dracaena. There are five different types of Dracaena marginata on the market today. The green variety, Tri-color, Bi- color, Colorama, and Magenta. The plants that have color in their names are varying shades of green, white, pink to reds. Magenta has burgundy colored foliage that may turn green if in to low of light. "Dragon Trees" are available from small starter plants to twenty foot plus specimens. They are grown in several variations such as Staggered plants, Exotic shape, Branched, tips or bush and tree form.

To successfully grow, check for watering weekly, allowing the soil to dry to the touch about 1/3 down the pot. Yellowing leaves can be an indication of over watering, under watering or simply just normal leaf drop. Under watered plants will shed a large amount of totally yellow leaves from the lower portion of the head, whereas a plant that has been over-watered, the leaf will yellow from the tip towards the stem. Feed only once a year - the Dracaena family does not like to be fertilized.

I'm not sure what the white stuff on the new leaves is. Perhaps insects called mealy bugs, or maybe it is a fungus. Try wiping the stuff off or picking it off with a toothpick. If more develops, rinse the plant off well and place it in an area away from other plants and where the air circulation is good.